Combined signal and connector bolt



Junell, 1957 L w, RQMINE 2,795,771

COMBINED SIGNAL AND CONNECTOR BOLT Filed Ha 24, 1954 INVENTOR.

LEE W. ROMlNE.

United States Patent COMBINED SIGNAL AND CONNECTOR BOLT Lee'W.Romine,.lndianapolis, Ind.

Application May 24, 1954, Serial No. 431,761

2 Claims. (Cl. 340-57) This invention relates to a signal bolt, and moreparticularly to one that is a combined connector and warnin g medium.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a devicewhich willserve not only as an ordinary bolt in connecting, an internal combustionengine cylinder head and block, but will serve also as awarningmediumthat the engine is overheating. While every automobile has atemperature indicator, it is nonetheless true that because of theinfrequency of its becoming significant or important, the average driverdoes not observe it when high temperatures are indicated. In short,while it is there in front of him, he does not observe it. Furthermore,such conventional indicators reflect only the temperature of the waterand but very indirectly or remotely the heat of the block itself. Withthe present invention the temperature of the block itself is whatactuates the signal.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a combinedconnector and signal bolt which will cause the driver to be audiblywarned when the engine block has reached a predetermined temperature. Asis well known, the blocks in use in internal combustion engines todayare so well constructed that the temperatures therein have to exceedapproximately 800 degrees Fahrenheit before damage is likely to result.The hottest parts of an engine are adjacent the valve ports and this isthe area that must be kept at a temperature low enough that no damagingcracks are formed. With the present invention, the driver is audiblywarned prior to the temperature reaching the critical point.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a boltof the character described which will have a minimum number of parts,will be relatively inexpensive in cost, and of the greatest simplicity.Heretofore there have been many and varied warning devices, but most ofthem have been cumbersome, complicated and expensive. On the other hand,the present invention may be formed out of the conventional bolts in useto connect the cylinder head to the cylinder block in an internalcombustion engine.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

Fig. l is a top plan view of the bolt alone.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof with parts of the bolt,cylinder head and block shown in section.

In the drawings the bolt is shown generally at 10, it being either theconventional bolt used to connect a cylinder head a of an internalcombustion engine to the cylinder block 10b, or a bolt having a slightlylarger than conventional head with a round portion 11 and a hex portion11a.

The head and shank 12 of the bolt are first drilled to form an elongatedchamber 13 for a fiuid 14. The fluid may be of any type or characterprovided it is expansive and has a boiling point that is higher thanwater.

2,795,771 PatentedJune 11, .1957

Once the ch'amberis' drilled, thehead is then counterbored to form" therecess 15. Mounted therein in sealing engagement with" the innerperipheral wall of the head is the lead sealor washer'lfi. Nested withinthe recessand seated upon the upper face of the washer is-the diaphragm17 which is preferably formed of a metal such as brass. Upon the upperface of the diaphragm is formed a contact 18.

' A' second washer or seal 19 is provided, it being seated upon the'upperface of the diaphragm adjacent its marginal edge, and being inengagement with the inner peripheral wall of the bolt head. Seated uponthe lastmentioned washer is a fibre insulating, washer 20 which has'anarrow crown 21 projecting upwardly therefrom.

Extending through the opening of the fibre washer is plug 22 having theterminal contact'23 formed on the end thereof. As will-be observedfrom'the drawing, the contact .23 is" in spaced" vertical relation to contact18.

The lower end of the plug has its diameter enlarged to form theshoulders 24, which abut the adjacent face of the fibre washerandmakeiitrimpossible to move the plug' upwardl-y' or outwardly when itis mounted as shown in-Fi'g. 2.

A recess or bore is formed in the upper portion of the plug for threadedreception of the terminal screw head 27. The insulated wiring 28 isconnected to the screw in the conventional way. Once the fibre washer isplaced within the recess, it is firmly anchored in place by rollingradially inwardly the upper ends of the head as at 29.

In operation, the bolt, which has its shank conventionally threaded, asat 39, is fitted in one of the accommodating threaded apertures 10cformed through the cylinder head and block, respectively. No changeswhatsoever need be made in these apertures. One of the conventionalbolts or cap screws is merely removed and the invention threaded home inits place. Preferably a bolt near the center of the engine where thegreatest heat is generated, will be the one removed to make room for theinvention.

The bolt comprising the invention (in combination with the cylinder headand block) will have been adjusted or calibrated at the factory so thatthe fluid will expand at a predetermined heat, such as 250 degrees to300 degrees Fahrenheit, to force the diaphragm contact into engagementwith the plug contact. At such a time the electric circuit will beclosed. The wiring leads to the automobile Klaxon or horn which issounded thereby, advising the driver that the heat of his engine blockhas reached a point that forebodes damage. The horn can be shut ofimerely by turning off the ignition switch. Since the electric circuitwhich actuates the horn may be of any conventional form well within theskill of the ordinary mechanic, it is not believed necessary toillustrate or describe it in detail.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood thatonly the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that allchanges and modifications that come within the spirit of the inventionand the scope of the claims are also desired to be protected.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a motor vehicle including audible warning means, a cylinder headand block having aligned threaded apertures normally occupied by capscrews, the combination with one of said apertures of a combinedconnector and signal bolt threaded in said aperture in place of said capscrew, said bolt comprising a threaded shank having a longitudinal boreformed therein and sized to fit in said apertures, a head on said shankhaving a recess formed therein and in communication with said bore, heatresponsive expandable fluid in said bore and recess, a pair ofvertically spaced annular seals in sealing engagement with theperipheral wall defining said recess, a yieldable diaphragmdisposed'between said 'seals and in abutment therewith, said diaphragmbridging said recess transversely of the axis thereof and havingacontact point formed on its upper face, the lower face of saiddiaphragm'being exposed to said fluid, and an electrical in standardthreaded openings in a cylinder head and block to connect the lattertogether, comprising a cylindrical shank provided with screw threadsnear one end to engage with the threads of the block, anenlargedintegral head at the opposite end of said shank to clampingly engagewith the head when the shank is screwed into said block, said headcounterbored at its outer end providing an open ended recess defined bya peripheral wall, said shank having a bored axial chamber communieatingat one end with said recess and terminating inwardly from the threadedend of said shank, said recess and chamber having heat responsiveexpandible fluid therein, a yieldable diaphragm extending across andclosing said recess above the liquid level therein, vertically spacedannular seals in said recess and engaging said peripheral "wall arrangedupon opposite sides of said diaphragm to hold the latter in position, aninsulating washer closing said recess and spaced beyond said diaphragmwith its outer edges in sealing engagement with said peripheral wall,the outer end of said wall peened over said washer to hold the latterand said seals and said diaphragm in assembled relationship, and acontact member centrally disposed in said washer with its lower endnormally spaced from said diaphragm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS714,810 Le Vesconte Dec. 2, 1902 1,164,572 Brandon Dec. 14, 19151,342,317 Wiren June 1, 1920 1,542,096 Riblet June 16, 1925 1,653,685Whittington Dec. 27, 1927 1,845,049 Jarvis Feb. 16, 1932 2,113,610 BaconApr. 12, 1938

